Heroes and villains of Britain's railways, part two

Expat Channel reader Richard Simnett says that the GWR won the gauge trials in
1845 (a train averaged about 60mph between London and Bristol) but lost -
doubtless due to "railway king" George Hudson's corrupt influence
- and Parliament set the gauge at 4ft 81/2in rather than the GWR gauge of
7ft 01/4in.